Torpedo-guard.



B. G. WILLIS.

TORPEDO GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5. 1917.

1,267,032. Patented Man 21,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES INVENTOR BeTw G. Wdilf WA k w ATTORNEYS B. G. WILLIS.

' TORPEDO GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5. 1912.

Patented May 21,1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

M/l/EN TOR e Ti G 6066s IBEBTI-E GRAY WILLIS, 0F AVOCA, NORTH CAROLINA.

TORPEDO-GUARD.

Application filed December 5, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERTIE GRAY VVILLIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Avoca, in the county of Bertie and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Torpedo-Guards, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in torpedo guards, and it consists in the constructions, combinations, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a torpedo guard consisting of a plurality of rudder-like guard plates disposed along the sides of a vessel contiguous to each other, with means for adjusting the guard plates either laterally or up and down.

Another object of the invention is to provide a torpedo guard including a plurality of guard plates spaced from the side of the vessel to intercept a torpedo, said guard plates being adjustable toward the side'of the vessel to cover a breach made in the con tinuous line of guard plates by the destruction of one of the plates upon the explosion of an intercepted torpedo.

Another object of the invention is to provide a torpedo guard consisting of a plurality of guard plates disposed in spaced relation with the side of the vessel, the ex treme vertical edges of the respective plates being contiguous to provide a substantially continuous shield, the guard plates being pivotally mounted on vertically adjustable booms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a torpedo guard including a rudderlike plate mountedupon a stock with compression springs above and below a supporting boom, and spring tension braces arranged in such a manner to equalize the uneven stresses upon the stock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guard plate for the purpose described, consisting of a hollow metallic body filled with cork or other similar substance, and having a weighted keel.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion Specification'of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Serial No. 205,535.

of a vessel illustrating the application of the torpedo guard.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the guard plates.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a portion. of one of the operating shafts showing the clutch and worm pinion arrangement.

Fig. a is a plan view of a vessel illustrating the contiguous arrangement of the rudder-like guard plates, the operating mechanism being completely shown for three of the guard plates.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of a portion of the vessel showing how the guard plates are adjusted to cover a breach caused by the mutilation Or destruction of one of the guard plates.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view showing the operating mechanism for one of the guard plates, and

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In carrying out my invention I provide a plurality of rudder-like guard plates 1, each of which is mounted upon a stock 2. Each stock 2 has a ball-bearing 3 at the top which is arranged to rest in a socket 4 on the end of a boom 5 vertically adjustable with respect to the side of the vessel 6. A ball bearing 3* is adjustably mounted on the stock 2 beneath the boom 5, and engages a socket 4 in the bottom of the head 5 of the boom.

The ball-bearings 3 and 3 are provided with collars as illustrated in Fig. 7 these collars providing rests where they merge with the ball-bearings proper, for compression springs. A compression spring 40 rests upon the ball-bearing 3 at the top, and a compression spring 41 engages the ball-bearing 3* at the bottom. Each of the compression springs also engages a collar 4:2. Each collar has a pair of eyes 4-3 to which equalizing springs are secured. The purpose of the compression springs 40 and ell will be obvious. The collars 42 are secured on the stock 2. The ball-bearings 3 and 8 are pressed tightly in the sockets 4.- and 4 in the head 5*, by the compression springs. The

compression springs are of such tensions that the weight of the guard plate 1 is supported in the proper position. If there be any tendency toward undue vertical movement of the guard plate, the compression springs will act in such a manner as to compensate for this undue movement.

Before proceeding with the description of the device, it should be stated that each of the guard plates 1 and the co-acting mechanism is identical and, therefore, the description of one will at present suffice for all. Eesuming, now, I will describe the adjustable feature of the boom 5; it will be observed that the boom 5 in Fig. 7 has a bracket 7 provided with internally threaded bosses 8 through which an adjusting screw shaft 9 passes.

The screw shaft 9 has bearing in journals 10 at each end, and the ends of the shaft 9 extend beyond the journals. The lower end has a collar 11 while the upper end has a driven worm gear 12.

A worm pinion 13 meshes with the worm gear 12. The worm pinion 13 is loose upon a shaft 14 and is held in place on the shaft by a collar 15 at one end. A. clutch member 16 is splined on the shaft 14 and is engageable with the clutch face 17 of the worm pinion 13. A lever 18 moves the clutch member 16 into and out of engagement with the clutch face 17 of the worm pinion 13.

The rotation of the shaft 14, rotates the worm gear 12 through the worm pinion 13, consequently revolving the screw shaft 9 and raising or lowering the guard plate boom 5, according to the direction of rotation of the shaft 9. The shaft 14 is not a continuous shaft, but is made in sections as illustrated in Fig. 4. Each section of the shaft 14 is joined by a universal joint 19. The joints 19 in the shaft 14 are necessary to compensate for the curvature of the sides of the vessel. It will be obvious that a continuous shaft could not be used because it would be necessary to bend the shaft, which would be impractical in the present instance.

The shaft 14 is driven by chain and sprocket devices 20 from an engine 21. The engine 21 also drives a drum 22 through interposed worm gear connections 23 which may be rendered active by a clutch shifting lever 24 which is arranged to shift a clutch on the crank shaft of the engine. The drum 22 is arranged to operate a cable 25 which runs over sheaves 26 at the bow and stern of the vessel.

7 The outer strand of the cable 25 is adjustably connected to a tiller 27 fitted over the square end 28 of the rudder stock 2 and normally held in place by a removable pin 29. The cable 25 passes through an eye 30 on the tiller 27 as shown in Fig. 6, where it is clamped in position by suitable clips 31. The fastening nuts of the clips 31 shown in Fig. 7, may be loosened to slide the clips on the cable 25 and permit any relative ad ustment of the tiller 27 with respect to the cable 25, that may be found necessary.

The guard plate 1 is rotatably adjustable in the sockets 4 and 4 by operating the cable 25 through the drum 22, thereby pulling on the tiller 27. The guard plate 1 is so adjusted when it becomes necessary to re-aline the respective contiguous guard plates. The guard plate 1 may even be used to steer the vessel. There may be instances when the rudder of the vessel becomes disabled. The guard plates 1 which appear and act like rudders, may then be employed to steer the vessel, they being manipulated through the medium of the cable 25 and the tiller 27 of the respective rudders, as just explained.

The boom 5 may be swung toward the side of the vessel 6 in either direction by a cable 32 which connects to the boom 5 at a standard 33 formed on the boom. The respective ends of the cables 32 are wound upon drums 34 operated by worm gears 35 from worm pinions 36 on the shaft 14. Each worm pinion 36 is loose on the shaft and is held in place by a collar which abuts one end. The other end of each worm pinion 36 has a clutch surface with which a clutch member 37 engages by being moved into such engagement through a clutch lever 38. In Fig. 6, when it is desired to swing the boom 5 upwardly or toward the left, the clutch member 37 of the lower drum 34 is disconnected, while the clutch member 37 of the upper drum 34 is connected with the worm pinion 36. The drum 34 is accordingly operated to wind the cable 32 thereon, while the drum 34 having free play, permits the unwinding of the companion cable 32 so that the boom 5 may swing in the direction indicated.

The'guard plate 1 is of a special construction as shown in Fig. 2. The main body portion of the guard plate 1 is in the nature of a narrow hollow easing into which cork or other similar substance 38 is packed. The guard plate 1 has a solid portion 39 at the bottom which forms a stabilizing keel therefor. The plate stock 2 extends to the end of the plate and is made square as shown in Fig. 2, so that there may be no relative turning of the stock with respect to the plate. I

The guard plates 1 are not disposed centrally of the stock 2, as can be plainly seen in Fig. 1. This arrangement of the guard plates is preferable since, as previously pointed out, the guard plates may be employed as rudders under certain conditions, and indeed act like rudders under ordinary conditions. The eccentric mounting of the guard plates on the stock, causes the guardv plates to remain in parallel alinement with the axis of the vessel, becauseof the greater lateral pressures of the water on the surfaces of the guard plates. The functions of the equalizing springs illustrated in Fig. 7 will be explained! There is always a tendency for the guard plates to move laterally to some extent because of the side pressures of the water thereon, caused by the action of the waves. This vibration of the guard plates is thought to be compensated for by the employment of two pairs of equalizing springs 44 and 45. Each spring 44 and 45 of the outer set, includes a portion which passes over a sheave 46 on the end of a swinging arm 47 hinged on the head 5. The continuation of the strand of each of the springs, also passes over a sheave 48 mounted on the side of the boom 5, and passes to the deck of the vessel where it is secured.

The same arrangement follows for the inner set of the springs 44 and 45. The con tinuations of these springs pass over a sheave 49 secured on the side of the boom 5, from whence they pass to the deck of the vessel where they are secured. By this arrangement, the tension of each of the springs may be increased or lessened, according to requirement.

It may be desirable at times to raise the guard plate 1 partly out of the water. For this purpose, a cable 50 runs from the deck of the vessel over a sheave 51 on the head 5, and is attached to a screw eye 52 on the guard plate. It will be understood that in actual practice, the parts will be so proportioned that it will be possible to raise the guard plate entirely out of the water. In raising the guard plate out of the Water, the lower compression spring 41 will be compressed while the spring 40 will simply lie idle on the ball-bearing 3.

The operation of the device is as follows: The guard plates 1 are normally arranged in the positions shown in Fig. 4, wherein the front and back edges of the respective guard plates are contiguous to each other to form a substantially continuous shield for the sides of the vessel 6. It will be observed that each guard plate is disposed in parallelism with the major axis of the vessel.

Each guard plate 1 acts like a rudder. T 0 this extent, the pressure of the water on either side of the rudder or guard plate is the same; this would not be the case, if the guard plates were arranged to conform tothe shape or curvature of the vessel. If this were so, obviously the pressure of the water would be greater on the outer surfaces of the guard plates than on the inner surfaces when the vessel proceeds forwardly. The value of the arrangement illustrated will thus be readily apparent. The full advantage of a strong shield for the sides of the vessel is obtained by the formation of the independent guard plates, and the guard plates are so positioned as to act like rudders for the ship, and also so positioned as to offer the least resistance to the progress of the vessel.

The guard plates may get out of parallelism. 1Vhen this occurs, the drums 22 are operated from the engines 21 to shift the guard plates through the tillers 27. The adjustment of the guard plates 1 through the medium of the drums 22, will ordinarily be very slight. It is necessary, however, to use the drums 22 to turn the tillers 27 a considerable distance, when the, guard plates are folded against the sides of the vessel.

Let it be assumed that a torpedo is approaching, as shown in Fig. 4. The torpedo will strike the guard plate and either destroy it or so mutilate it that it can serve no further useful function in protecting the vessel at that place, and thus leaves a breach in the continuous line of guard plates. The adjacent guard plate and, in fact, all of the guard plates on that side of the vessel, are then adjusted to cover the breach.

The manner of doing this is illustrated in Fig. 5. The clutch members 37 of the drums 84 at the right of the booms 5 are connected with the shaft 14 by the levers 38. In this connection, reference is directed to Fig. 4. At the same time, the clutch members 37 at the left of the booms 5 are held disconnected. All of the booms 5 will accordingly turn to the right by reason of the winding of the cable 32 on the right-handed drums 34.

' In the meantime,- the drum 22. on the companion side of the vessel, is operated to play ,out the cable 25 which connects to the tillers 27, to properly compensate for the armate movement of the booms 5 and keep the guard plates 1 parallel, as shown. When the guard plates 1 and booms 5 all assume the positions indicated at the left of the center in Fig. 5,the drums 34 at the right of the booms are disconnected from the shaft.

14 to stop further movements of the booms.

Both clutches 37 and each boom 5 below or at the left of the guard plate which has been struck by the torpedo, are left disconnected from their respective worm pinions so that after the guard plates are adjusted to the position indicated, they remain so. The clutches 37 at the left of each boom 5 above the destroyed guard plate, are now connected with the shaft 14 to rotate the booms toward the left. These booms 5 and attached guard plates 1, will accordingly move toward the position indicated above the center in Fig. 5, until the edge of the nearest guard plate 1 adjoins the edge of the guard plate 1 at the other side of the breach, and thus cover the breach formed by the defective guard plate.

While the construction and arrangement of the device as illustrated in the accom- ,panying drawings is that of a generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A torpedo guard, comprising in combination with a vessel, a plurality of guard plates supported at the sides of the vessel in parallelism with the major axis, and being arranged en e'chelon at the bow and stern to conform to the contour of the vessel, and mechanism for adjusting each guard plate to remain in parallelism with said major axis regardless of the angularity of the support and contour of the vessel.

2. In a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a boom extending from the side of the vessel, a screw shaft having bearing on the side of the vessel and supporting the boom, driving connections on the vessel for the shaft to turn the shaft and raise and lower the boom, a guard plate having a rudder stock extending through the end of the boom, and bearing means mounted on the stock arranged to engage the end of the boom.

3. In a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a boom extending from the side of the vessel, the boom having screw shaft brackets, a screw shaft having bearing on the side of the vessel and supporting the boom by the brackets, a drive shaft arranged near the side of the vessel, gear connections between the drive shaft and the screw shaft whereby the screw shaft may be rotated to elevate or lower the boom, a clutch connection for disconnecting and connecting the gear connections, a guard plate, a rudder stock carried by the guard plate and extending through the end of the boom, bearing means arranged on the rudder stock for engaging the boom, and independently operated means for adjusting the guard plate with respect to the boom.

4. In a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a boom, supported on the side of the vessel and arranged for vertical and lateral adjustment with respect thereto, means for adjusting the boom vertically, a guard plate including a rudder stock supported in the end of the boom, and cable connections with the boom, operated from the deck of the vessel for adjusting the boom laterally independently of the vertical adjusting mechanism.

5. In a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a boom projecting from the side of the vessel, a guard plate including a rudder stock, supported on the end of the boom, a common drive shaft adapted to adjust the boom vertically and laterally at times, and operating connections between the drive shaft and the boom for obtaining independent adjustment of the boom vertically and laterally.

6. In a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a boom projecting from the side of the vessel, a supporting screw shaft for the boom arranged to adjust the boom vertically and permit lateral movement thereon, means operated from the deck of the vessel for adjusting the boom laterally in either direction, a guard plate including a rudder stock supported in the end of the boom, a tiller carried by the rudder stock, and drum and cable connections with the tiller for turning the rudder stock to com pensate for the arcuate movement of the boom in adjusting the boom toward the side of the vessel, to keep the guard plate in parallelism with the major axis of the vessel.

7. In a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a boom projecting from the side of the vessel, a supporting screw shaft for the boom, said shaft obtaining the vertical adjustment of the boom and permitting the lateral adjustment thereof toward the side of the vessel, a driving shaft, driving connections between the shaft and the screw shaft, an engine for driving the shaft, adjusting means operated. from the shaft for adjusting the boom laterally toward the side of the vessel, a guard plate including a rudder stock pivotally supported on the outer end of the boom, a tiller carried by the rudder stock, winding drums, and a cable passing over the winding drums and operated by the engine, said cable being attached to the tiller to obtain independent adjustment of the guard plate, or to adjust the guard plate when the boom is adjusted to compensate for the arcuate movement of the boom and keep the guard plate in parallelism with the major axis of the vessel.

8. In a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a plurality of guard plates spaced from the side of the vessel disposed in parallelism with the major axis of the vessel, and having the ends contiguously disposed to provide a substantially continuous shield, means for supporting the guard plates in spaced relation with the side of the vessel, an operating shaft common to all of the spacing means, and independent clutch devices arranged to obtain the adjustment of certain sets of the guard plates toward each other, to cover a breach in the shield, upon the destruction of one of the guard plates.

9. In a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a guard plate disposed in parallelism with the major axis of the vessel at the side of the vessel, a boom projecting from the side of the vessel and supporting the guard plate in spaced relationship,

and means for turning the guard plate on the end of the boom, whereby the guard plate may act as a rudder for the vessel.

10. In a torpedo guard, a rudder stock having a squared portion on the lower end, and a guard plate carried by the squared portion, said guard plate being partly hollow to receive a filling, and having a thickened lower portion to form aweighted keel. 11. In a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a guard plate, a rudder stock supporting the guard plate, a boom projecting from the side of the vessel and carrying the rudder stock, securing means on the rudder stock above and below the boom, and equalizing spring devices extending from said securing means to outer and inner portions of the boom.

12. I11 a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a guard plate, a rudder stock supporting the guard plate, a boom extending from the side of the vessel and carrying the rudder stock, a swinging arm hinged on the extremity of the boom, securing means carried by the rudder stock above and below the boom, and equalizing springs each having one end fastened to the securing means and the other ends extending toward the extremity of the swinging arm and toward the middle of the boom, respectively.

13. In a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a guard plate, a rudder stock supporting the guard plate, a boom extending from the side of the vessel and carrying the rudder stock, a swinging arm hinged on the extremity of the boom, securing means carried by the rudder stock above and below the boom, equalizing springs each having one end fastened to the securing means and the other ends extending toward the extremity of the swinging arm and toward the middle of the boom, respectively, and means associated with portions of the equalizing springs for adjusting the tension thereof.

14. In a torpedo guard. the combination with a vessel, of a guard plate, a rudder stock supporting the guard plate, a boom extending from the side of the vessel and having a head with an opening receiving the rudder stock, said opening terminating in sockets at the top and bottom surfaces of the head, ball bearings slidable upon the stock and engaging the sockets, collars mounted on the rudder stock above and below the head, and compression springs encircling said stock and engaging the respective collars and ball bearings.

15. In a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a guard plate, a rudder stock supporting the guard plate, a boom extending from the side of the vessel and carrying the rudder stock, a swinging arm projecting from the boom and hinged on the extremity thereof, sheaves mounted on the boom and on said arm respectively, collars on the rudder stock above and below the boom, and equalizing springs secured to the collars and including strands passing over the respective sheaves to the deck of the vessel to permit adjustment of the tension of the springs.

16. In a torpedo guard, the combination with a vessel, of a guard plate, a boom extending from the vessel, a rudder stock supporting the guard plate and carried by the boom, a sheave on the boom, and a cable attached at one end to the guard plate, and running over the sheave to the deck of the vessel.

17. In a device as described, the combination of a boom, a rudder stock pendently supported by the boom, a guard plate carried by the rudder stock, a compression spring encircling the rudder stock, and a cable for lifting the guard plate vertically with respect to the boom, compressing said spring.

18. In a device as described, the combination of a boom head having a sheave, a rudderstock pendently supported by the head, a guard plate carried by the rudder stock, a

collar on the rudder stock, a ball bearing on Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

